Gun Permits

HOW TO OBTAIN A GUN PERMIT

On July 1, 2022, the State of Indiana will no longer require a handgun permit to legally carry, conceal or transport a handgun within the state. This law DOES NOT allow everyone to carry a handgun as Indiana law contains certain criteria which must be met for a person to legally carry within the state. Information about this change in requiremens can be found here.

Although a permit is not required by the State of Indiana, the requirements and information to obtain a gun permit are detailed below.

Online Application Indiana Law on Handgun Permits

State law governs the procedures for handgun permits. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and not have any felony convictions. Misdemeanor convictions on charges of domestic battery or violence also are not allowed.

To receive a permit through the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office, a person must reside in an unincorporated area of Elkhart County. Residents of a municipality need to go through their city police agency. A resident of another state, if employed full-time at an Elkhart County business, also may apply at the Sheriff's Office.

Prior to visiting the Sheriff's Office, the online application must be completed. Upon completion of the online application, the applicant must have his or her fingerprints taken. This has to be completed electronically using designated L-1 Identity Solutions, Inc. sites which are available at several locations in the area.  There is an additional fee for electronic fingerprinting and can be arranged by appointment at 1-877-472-6917 or online after finishing the application.

Firearm License Links

The following are links to the IN.gov site pertaining to firearm permits. These links contain important information and should answer any questions you may have. Please consult with these pages first before calling the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office.

Important Note about Payments to the Indiana State Police

The Indiana State Police Firearms Licensing Unit will no longer accept payment for firearms license applications, duplicate license requests or manual inked fingerprint cards by mail. If a payment or fingerprint card is received by mail, it will be returned to the applicant.

Application payments must be made electronically through the Firearms License Application Portal. Please contact your Local Law Enforcement Agency for special circumstances.

The Indiana State Police Department is no longer accepting manual name change forms, manual address change forms or manual duplicate license request forms. All changes must be completed online through the Indiana State Police Handgun Licensing Portal. Click the appropriate link below to begin your online process.

Note on Local Fees

There are no longer any fees for gun permits.

Note About Applications

All applications are subject to a waiting period of up to four weeks for the completion of a criminal history background check. At the conclusion of the background check, the records division will electronically submit the application to the state with a recommendation to approve or deny the application. In many cases, applicants are frequently denied due to an applicant failing to list all previous criminal convictions, which will cause delays in the approval process.

States that Honor Indiana Permits

Indiana Permits are honored in the following states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Please Note: Illinois does not honor an Indiana permit.

Gun Permit Map.png


For more information regarding an Indiana Handgun Permit, please visit the Indiana State Police's website.